Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-03
Sherman'S FOra9ers.

From an illustrated article in the
October Century, descriptive of march
ing with Sherman through Georgia and
the Carolinas, by participant, Captain
Daniel Oakley, we quote as follows:
"Cock fighting became one of the pas
times of the Flying Column Many fine
birds were brought in by our foragers.
Those found deficient in courage and skill
quickly went to the stew-pan in company
with the modest barn-yard fowl, but
those of redcubtable valor won an honor
ed place and name, and were to be seen
riding proudly on the front seat of an
artillery caisson, or carried tenderly I'M
der the arm of an infantry soldier.
eve were proud of our foragers. They
constituted a picked force from each
regiment, under an officer, for the COM
mand, and were remark able for intelli-
gence, spirit, and daring. Before day
light, mounted on horses captured on the
plantations, they were in the saddle, and
away, covering the country sometimes
seven miles in advance. Although have
said in the saddle many forager had
nothing better than bit of carpet and a
rope halter; yet this simplicity of equip
ment did not abate his power of carrying
off hams and sweet potatoes in the face
important as a sort of advance guard, for
they formed virtually curtain of mount
ed infantry screening US from the in
quisitiye eyes of parties of Wheeler's cav
airy, with whom they did not hesitate
to engage when it was question of
rich plantation,
"When com PEELED to retire, they re-
sorted to all the tricks of infantry skirm-
ishers, and summoned re-enforcements
of foragers from other regiments to help
drive the 'Johnnies out. When success
crowned their efforts, the plantation was
promptly stripped of live stock and eat
ables. The natives were accustomed to
bury provisions, for they feared their
owa soldiers quite as much as they fear
ed ours. These .subterranean stores were
readily discovered by the practiced Yam
kee' eye. The appearance of the ground
and little probing with ramrod or a
bayouet soon decided whether to dig.
Teams we're improvised; carts and vehi-
cles of all sorts were pressed into the
service and loaded with provisions. If
any Anticipated militia uniforms were
discovered they were promptly donned,
and comical procession escorted the
valuable train Of booty of the point
where the train was expected to bivouac
for the night. The regimentals of the
past, even to those of revolutionary times,
were often conspicuous.
son an occasion when our brigade had
the advance several parties of foragers,
consolidating themselves, captured a
town from the enemy's cavalry, and oc-
cupied the neighboring plantations. Be-
fore the arrival of the main column hos
tilities had ceased; order had been re.
stored, and mock arrangements were
made to receive the army. Our regiment
in the advance was confronted by pick
ct dressed in continental uniform, who
waved his plumed hat in response to the
gibes of the men, and galloped away on
his horseback mule to apprise his COM
rades of our approach. We marched in
to the town and rested on each side of the
main street. Presently forager in an
cient militia uniform indicating high
rank, debouched from a side street to do
the honors of the occasion. He was
mounted on Rozinante with a bit of
carpet for saddle. His old plumed cha
peau in hand, he rode with gracious dig
nifty through the streets as a reviewing a
brigade. After him came il family carri-
age laden with hams, sweet potatoes. and
other provisions, and drawn by two
horses, mule. and cow, The two latter
ridden by postillions.n